Hydraulic stop device for web feeding machines



M. W. ALGER Dec. 18, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Aug. ll, 1948 vm. vm, m m, d J m m u 4 Y n A V i .w4 wm mv. N .um wm. M. w. ma m W S a ww .d e o M Q" mw uw 4 YQS JI' D b...- mm mv Sv um ,wm Q 9v Dec. 18, 1951 Filed Aug. ll, 1

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M. w. ALGER 2,578,960 HYDRAULIC STOP DEVICE FOR WEB FEEDING MACHINES l 948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Inventar lMil/0n W. .Alger WWW 5mm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HYDRAULIC STOP DEVICE FOR WEB FEEDING MACHINES Milton W. Alger, Brockton, Mass.

Application August 11, 1948, Serial No. 43,626

' 4 Claims. (Cl. ZV1-2.6)

'Ihis invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a hydraulic stop device for web feeding machines and more specifically pertains to a method and an attachment for improving the operation of web feeding machines and particularly of packaging machines, whereby further feeding of the web is positively prevented after predetermined portions thereof have been conveyed to the receiving portion of the machine.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for increasing the efficiency of the operation of a web feeding machine.

An important object is to provide a process wherein predetermined and preformed selected portions of a web are intermittently and successively supplied to a packaging machine and wherein means are provided for preventing any variation in the feeding of the said predetermined portions, wherein the control of the feeding operation is effected by means of an electric eye scanning suitable target indicia carried by the web to be fed and. which electric eye controls the stop mechanism of the web feeding means.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic stop attachment which may be readily applied to various types of existing web feeding machines for controlling the feeding stroke thereof in response to control targets on the web itself, together with an electric eye for controlling the operation of a hydraulic stop mechanism in response to the passage of successive markers beneath the electric eye.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a web feeding conveyor which is reciprocable relative to a web receiving member, a driving means and a yieldable connection between the driving means and the conveyor, together `with an adjustable stop mounted on the conveyor and a yieldable abutment or stop mounted on the web receiving member positioned in the path of travel of the fixed stop, which yieldable stop additionally resists further move-- ment of the conveyor at a predetermined position in its travel and is controllable to selectively and positively oppose further movement of the conveyor at a predetermined position in the travel of the web.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the provision of an attachment as set forth in the preceding feature, wherein the positive stop means includes a hydraulic cylinder having a piston movable therein and connected with the yielding abutment or stop, together with the hydraulic reservoir communicating with the cylinf der and a control valve for regulating the flow of fiuid from said cylinder to said reservoir.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the provision of an attachment as set forth in the foregoing features wherein an electric circuit is provided for operating a solenoid controlling the valve to selectively bias the same to its closing position in response to the passage of a predetermined portion of the web beneath a web detecting station.

Yet another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an attachment in conformity with the foregoing features wherein the detecting station includes an electric eye connected in the circuit and controlling the circuit for energizing the valve.

Yet another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an attachment as set forth in the above mentioned features wherein the driving means is actuated through a distance capable of imparting a greater movement to the conveyor means than is necessary to feed the desired portion of the web, wherein the conyeving means first encounters a yielding resistance in advance of the termination of the distance necessary to feed a desired portion of the web, and wherein the yielding abutment is then selectively locked against further movement when the desired portion of the web has been fed by the conveyor, whereby the locking abutment will positively prevent further movement of the conveyor and feeding of the conveyor, and simultaneously effect yielding in the yielding connection of the driving mechanism throughout the remainder of the stroke of the latter.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of the invention which. will later become apparent as the following description y tion of a suitable type of web which may be dispensed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 3 is a lvertical longitudinal sectional View through a portion of the hydraulic stop ciprocation of the conveying means.

the rod A34, whereby on its forward movement `thelposs,.so,nmressfs thesprine 42 .and threllsh. the .compressed spring, vp ivotl pinn30 and abutmechanism of the device, parts being shown in elevation; and,

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram illustrating a suitable electric circuit employed in the invention.

Referring now more specically to the ac- V5 for reciprocatory motion towards and from the stationary receiving member I2, together 'with a driving and connecting means for causing re- This driving mechanism includes anyfsuitable power source such as an electricmotor I6 ,which .is drivinglyconnected as by means of VVa beltj and pulley 2li with a connecting rod 22 whose outer ends pivotecl asat 2li to an oscillating vor rocker lever 26 journalled or fulcrumed as at 23 toany suitable portion of the-supporting frame of the machine. f

Pivotally secured as by a pivot pin.30 and up standing lug 32 on theconveyorlm'ember I4, is

.anoperating r'od 34.Whose screw threaded outer -extremity 36 is slidably received in the transverselyextendingbore of` a bossl 38fcarried oy the'outer end ofthe oscillating, lever 26. YArlock nut 40 servesfto maintain therod 34 invproperllr adjusted position in therocker 2'6, whereby the relativeposition ofthe conveyor member I4 with respect to its operating rocker 26, may be regulated., `A compression spring 42 surroundsthe 1 rod 34` between the tubular boss 38 and a sleeve or collar v44 loosely surrounds the rod 34 at the -pivot end thereof. y p Y Y Y, It will thus bey seen that as the rocker 26 is oscillated, the, tubular boss 38, slides freely on mnt'afz, yieldingly reciprocate or drive the conveyor I4 towards the receiving member :[257 while 5 on the reverse movement of the rocker 25, the tutuiar bosssa abuis theiock nutro and positively jretract's theconveyor member I4 to "its original position. It will also be readily understood that conveyor member I4 "isencountered, continued movementof the rocker 26 is permitted by. yieldhereinafter. e. A web `or strip 45 of any suitable material such as a paper strip for wrapping packages or the like is fed from anysuitable source, being moved in the directions of the arrow 48, across the surface ofthe conveyor member I4 and Vfrom the end thereof to the stationary web receiving Vmember lI2, this-stepbeing advanced in an intermitand by l "70 'a pistonetsiidabiy received 'in a cyiiiidricai tent step by step motion in a manner a `meansto be now y"set forth.

y Pivoted to the upper surface of the conveyor I4 are suitable web retaining dogs 5I! which firmly grip the web when the conveyor moves toward the lefgt il'l Figurel 1,1.to'the`feby adi/hee ithv'web 'with the conveyor; 'but which release "the "web fil) 4 upon movement of the conveyor means to the right, it being understood that the web itself will be retained by suitable non-return means, not shown, and carried by the machine IIJ.

In order to better understand the application of the process and apparatus for carrying out this invention, attention is directed to Figure 2 wherein it will be seen that the web i6 isrprovided with a suitable spaced indicia 52 thereon which indicia constitutes labels or other matter to be placed upon the article to be packaged or wrapped by the machine I0. When wrapping such an L'article Las for example a box, it is desired and necessary that not only the proper length 'of 'thestripf or web 4t be supplied morder td completely enclose and wrap the article, but it als'on'ecessary that the indicia 52 shall appear at Athe same selected place on each sheet, in order to be properly positioned on the packaged article.V Y For this reason, itis not sufficient to provide` a means for dispensing thesame predetermined 4quantity of web at a step by step movement or" the conveyor means, since owing toV irregularities of operation in the packagingpmachine itself as well as other causes, it frequently occurs that the indicia 52 of a piece of web supplied to the packaging machine will be improperly placed, the web may 'slip in the conveying means, and for various other reasons Athe indicia maybecome improperly placedf the dispensing 'of the web is regulated solely by the distance f travel of the conveyor means I4. Y

In 'order to overcome these defects, it is necessary to have a detection station Vfor inspecting targets or reference'points such 'as those indicated at '54 on the web, in order to determine vthe extent of the portion'of the web which'should be fed or 'dispensed at reach operation of the conveyor. For this purp'segsuitable targets `-`54 are placed on the side of the strip '46, and 'an electr'ic'eye indicated generally by the reference numeral 56, and lof any known Yand desired construction isrmounted upon the frame of the machine in a position to be energized and actuated by passageof one of the targets '514 therebeneath. rlhis electri'cveye constitutes a switch controlling electric circuit, which "electric circuit is employed to `energize a stop mechanism for controlling theamount, of the web dispensed by the conveyor This `adjustable stop means includesranadjustable xed stop comprising a bracket ."5'8 ofV any suitable construction mounted upon or carried by the conveyor means I4 to bereciprocable therewith, this bracket having aforwardly extending screw threaded member Bl) which4 isfadju'stably carried vby the bracket 58. Slidably and movablycarried 'by the stationary member I2 is the headed member`t2 'of a yieldable abutment, this headed member being disposed'in the' path 'of 'travel of the member 653 for engagement thereby at the end of la 'predetermined portion of travel of the conveyor means I4, but prior Vto theftermination of s ,uii'icient 'travel to feed the'v desired poi-tion ofthe stripts. Y f

As will be best lseen 'by reference 't'ofFig-ure 3, the headed member ris lcarried by theend of a rod tlvwhoseother extremity isprovi'll'ed"with 75 'citaten "at 14, "ao a 'compression spring 1s 'sirrounds the rod 64 and is interposed between the packing means 'I4 and the headed end 62, to yieldingly urge the rod outwardly of the member 68, andthe headed member 62 toward the member 60 ofthe conveyor means I4.

A suitable atmospheric vent 18 is provided for establishing a communication between the interior of the member 68 at the outer side of the piston 66 and the atmosphere to thereby prevent any dash pot eifect `of the piston in the cylinder member 68.

The body member I2 contains a chamber constituting a hydraulic fluid reservoir 86 which is disposed above the chamber I0 4and separated therefrom as by a partition 82, provided with a -port 84 establishing communication between the chamber and the reservoir. A valve member 86 of any suitable construction is provided in the chamber 'I0 and is urged by gravity to its open position, but when` elevated by means to be subsequently set forth, is effected to close the port 84 and thereby stop further communication between the chamber 'I0 and the reservoir 80. The valve 86 is provided with an upwardly extending valve stem 88 which extends through a bore 90 in the upper wall of the chamber 80 and into the tubular core 92 of a solenoid indicated at 94. This tubular core 92 has continuous communication with the chamber 80 and with the uid storage tank 96, by means of a further conduit 98.

The operation of the hydraulically actuated stop means is as follows: With the parts in the position shown in Figure 3, except that the piston 66 and rod 64 are in the extreme right end of their travel, the yielding abutment is ready for operation. As the driving means operates, and the conveyor means I4 is moved toward the yielding abutment, and the web 46 is fed thereby, the fixed abutment 60 finally contacts the head 62 of the yielding abutment, preferably at some predetermined time before the intended bend of the operating stroke of the web feeding means. Upon continued movement of the web feeding means, including the driving means and the carriage or conveyor, the abutment 60 compresses the yielding abutment 64 against the resistance of the spring 16, and the resulting inward movement of the piston 66 serves to displace the hydraulic fluid from the chamber 10, through the port 84 and chamber 80, through conduits 92 and 98 and into the storage tank 96. However, when the web 46 has been moved a desired distance and the parts have been properly positioned, the next target 54 passing beneath the electric eye 56 energizes the latter and causes actuation of the electric circuit whereby the solenoid 94 is energized, and the valve stem 88 constituting the solenoid core is now elevated thereby closing the valve 86 to shut off ilow through the port 84. With the valve thus closed, the fluid in the hydraulic chamber 'I0 can no longer escape intermittently, since hydraulic fluid is substantially incompressible, further inward movement of the piston 66 is halted and the yielding abutment can no longer yield. It should be noted that at this time the pressure in the hydraulic chamber further assists in holding the valve 86 to its seat. It should be parwhereby no more of the web is now fed. However,

the driving means 26 has not yet completed its stroke,`and the. latter is now completed by the tubular boss 38 sliding over the rod 42 against the resistance of the yielding spring 34. It should be noted that this lost motion connection is necessary in order that at all times there may be suf- 'cient movement imparted to the conveyor means I4 for feeding the requisite quantity of web 46, as whena new web is fed into the machine, a web has become displaced therein or the like.

The electric circuit for actuating the hydraulic stop means by means of the electric eye is indicated in Figure 4, wherein it will be seen that electric current is supplied from any suitable source as by the conductors |00, this current then passing through the member |02 of the electric cell by means of a conducting circuit |04. The light ray emitted from the member |02 then passes as indicated by the dotted line |06 through the web 46 and impinges on the light responsive cell |08 and the impulse thus generated is amplied by the amplier I I2 which is connected to the source of power by conductors |I4, to the photocell by conductors I|6, and to the solenoid 94 by the conductors I|0.

This detector or switch now establishes communication by means of the conductors II 0 with the above mentioned solenoid 94 to thereby energize the Valve 86. As soon as the target 54 has passed from out of register with the line of sight I 06 between the light and the target of the electric eye 56, the solenoid is no longer energized, the valve is released and drops by gravity to its original position as shown in Figure 3, whereupon when the conveyor means I4 is withdrawn by the rocker 26, and the abutment members 60 and 62 are released, the spring 16 is now effected to restore the movable abutment to its original position, whereupon the cycle is repeated upon the next feeding operation of the mechanism.

From the foregoing, the process of operation, and the operation of the attachment itself will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the process and apparatus to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modilications and equivalents may be resorted, to falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention. what is claimed as new is:

l. A hydraulic stop device for a web feeding machine having a stationary member, a reciprocable member movable towards and from said stationary member for feeding a web, a driving member and a yieldable connection between said driving and Areciprocable members com-- prising; an adjustable stop carried by said reciprocable member, a yieldable abutment including a hydraulic cylinder carried by said stationary member and a piston movable in said cylinder and disposed in the path of movement o1 said adjustable stop, a hydraulic reservoir communicating with said cylinder, a normally open valve controlling the escape of iiuid from said cylinder to said reservoir and means responsive to predetermined movement of a web for closing said valve thereby rendering the yieldable abutment rigid.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a resilient means biasing said yieldable abutment in a direction to oppose movement of said re- 3,'1'I3he combination of claim -1 including a including fan 'electric lcircuit for Yenergizing said Solenoid. Y

4. The -eombination .o'f `rclaim 3 wherein fsa'd last means includes fan electric :cell :for 'detecting markers Aon the web, Said electric nell formin a part of v'said :lectricfcrcuit MILTONW- ALGER- REFERENCES CITED' fhe following refrepes ,are Iof rec'oxfd in the fue of this patent:

'Name Date `P01-,ter Aug. 23, 1881 Warren Oct. l30, 1917 Y Madden 'May 19, 1925 Smith Aug. 23, 1932` `Webber May 11, 1937 Marvin June 25, '1940* Hafecost -Ju'ly 29, -1941 Sten'le et al Apr. 11, 1944 Stenle et all. Jan. 2'3, 1945 Daugherty Nov. 111, 1947 Blaisdell et al. Aug. "10,1948 

